Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
5-Ingredient Skillet Gnocchi
Soft gnocchi under a blanket of melted mozzarella is a pretty inviting sight. Set the skillet on the table and let everyone scoop into the saucy middle. It has the easygoing appeal of a favorite pasta dinner, with little potato dumplings taking their turn.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 8 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Cuisine
- Italian
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Choose an oven-safe skillet
The same skillet goes from the stovetop under the broiler, so make sure it is suitable before you begin.
2. Skip a separate boil
The gnocchi go straight from the package into the marinara. Separate any pieces stuck together as you add them.
3. Stir during the simmer
Give the gnocchi an occasional stir while they soften so they do not stick to the bottom of the skillet.
Get to know the ingredients
Fresh mozzarella slices
Arrange slices of fresh mozzarella evenly over the cooked gnocchi before moving the skillet under the hot broiler.
Jarred marinara
The marinara goes into the garlic oil before the packaged gnocchi. It is the sauce they cook in.
Minced garlic
Have the garlic minced and ready for its brief cook in the hot olive oil at the beginning.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 5 steps completeMake room for 5-Ingredient Skillet Gnocchi
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Scoop while the cheese is melted
Remove the skillet once the mozzarella melts, add the optional fresh basil if using, and serve immediately.
A little more help as you go
Wait for a hot broiler
Preheat the broiler after arranging the cheese, then put the skillet underneath when the broiler is hot.
Season the sauce stage
Add the salt and black pepper when the gnocchi join the marinara, before their stovetop cooking begins.
A few questions you might have
How do I know the gnocchi are ready for cheese?
They should be soft and cooked through after simmering in the sauce. Add the mozzarella once they reach that point.
Does the cheese get stirred into the sauce?
Lay the mozzarella slices over the top instead. The broiler melts them over the gnocchi for the final layer.
Is the basil required?
The chopped basil is optional. If you are using it, add it after the skillet comes out from under the broiler.
Do I put the skillet in the oven before the gnocchi soften?
Cook the gnocchi through on the stovetop first. The broiler stage follows that cooking and is there to melt the mozzarella.
What happens if some packaged gnocchi are stuck together?
Separate them as they go into the marinara so the individual pieces can cook in the sauce.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: twopeasandtheirpod.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.